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Mexican Martini

Many a youthful happy hour did I spend at Austin’s famously peripatetic Cedar Door bar, the self-proclaimed inventor of our state’s most famous native cocktail, the Mexican martini. A frosty metal shaker of sweet-tart elixir, a salt-encrusted coupe glass, fat green olives impaled on a wee plastic sword—this was what summer in Texas was made of. The Austin establishment latched on to the idea, someone dubbed the drink a Mexican “martini” (prompting someone else to throw in some olives), and the rest is history. Alas, the Mexican martini you’re likely to get nowadays is a mass-market impostor composed of premade margarita mix and delivered in a cloudy plastic shaker. Not particularly Mexican and not a martini, this is a damn tasty, fittingly weird gift from Austin to the rest of the world.

texasmonthly.com

Nora Brown, the banjo prodigy singing tales of Appalachia

At an age when most teenagers are busy learning the latest Tik Tok dance craze, banjo virtuoso Nora Brown has just released her second album of old-time twang. When her parents gifted her a ukulele for Christmas at age six they never envisioned she would grow into one of the bluegrass world's rising stars. The now 16-year-old raised in Brooklyn is among the musicians carrying on traditions from the mountains of Appalachia passed down from the genre's old masters.

news.yahoo.com

5 DIY activities for spring break camp at home

San Antonio mom, Christie Cuthbert, is using her wildly fantastic journey through motherhood to help others. "The Mischief Makers" from Christie Cuthbert (Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved.) Here’s a few ideas from Christie Cuthbert for making your own DIY spring break camp at home:1. Mail a Hug by Christie Cuthbert (Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved.) Inventor's Afternoon by Christie Cuthbert (Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)

Get crafty in 2021 with a DIY vision board

If you’re looking for a socially distant-safe environment to do a craft date with kids, friends or even a date night, Pinspiration San Antonio can help you out. in Shavano Park. Owner Christine Mahr tells us she also offers kits you can take home with instructions, if you prefer to be crafty at-home. “And our splatter room is perfect for a date night,” Mahr said. The splatter room includes paint, music, a blank canvas and “lots of memories made.”Click here to schedule a craft date.

15 quarantine home renovations from our viewers, readers -- and the photos are amazing

We asked our viewers and readers to send us photos of their DIY home renovations that were completed during quarantine, and we were absolutely stunned by the responses. Not only did we get dozens of submissions showing photos full of incredible home makeovers, but a lot of viewers submitted before-and-after pictures -- and the attention to detail and craftsmanship is truly commendable. The chandelier was already great, but the new floors and paint on the walls really bring it all together, don’t you think? When we asked for home renovation photos, we didn’t specify what kind of home! We want to see your resultsYou can still submit photos, and we want to see them.

Stock tank pools are here to make summer cooler

SAN ANTONIO Stock tanks are having a moment. The galvanized tubs arent just for farms and ranches anymore, theyve become the inexpensive pool trend of the summer thanks to social media. All the how-to articles stress the importance of choosing a level area for your pool or using sand to build up a level area so there are no leaks. Painting the sides, adding a surrounding deck and digging a hole to make your stock tank and in-ground pool are all popular options to spruce up your DIY project. Websites with step-by-step instructions on how to set up your stock tank pool:Heres a little stock tank pool inspiration:

How to cut your son’s hair at home -- for blondes, it’s a little different

We’ve showed you how to master the at-home haircut during quarantine, but cutting hair on people who are blonde -- well, it’s a whole other rodeo. A lot of mistakes can be hidden with people who have dark hair because, well, their hair is dark. It may be noticeable to them, but the average person walking down the street probably isn’t going to notice a chunk of hair not blended in. But for people with blonde hair, however, it’s a different story. That’s why StyleWise style editor Jon Jordan recruited busy mom Lauren once again to give one of her sons another at-home haircut, and luckily, her second son is a blondie.

Did you know you can give yourself a full spa treatment, with ingredients found in your own home?

The spa might be closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself while quarantining, right? Believe it or not, there are tons of remedies for facial and hair treatments -- that you can do with ingredients that you probably already have deep in your cupboard or refrigerator. StyleWise style editor Jon Jordan had his friend Katrina show him just how easy it is to create a supple face mask and color correctors for hair with pantry item staples, such as milk, honey, and yes, even ketchup. It might seem a little strange at first, but using organic and natural ingredients like milk and honey can make a luxurious face mask -- and if your hair is damaged by the sun or chlorine from a pool, ketchup can take care of that right away. Obviously, nothing compares to a day trip to a spa, getting waited on hand and foot, but with a little imagination (and some at-home ingredients), you can turn your home into the spa of your dreams, even in quarantine.

Need a mask? Here are some ways to make your own

The face coverings are required whenever anyone goes out into public and when working close to others. University Health System has released some instructions and patterns that were designed and tested by a team of UHS surgeons, nurses and engineers. KSAT also did a story about the chief executive nurse at University Health System who designed a mask with 99.5% filtration efficiency. Actor Matthew McConaughey has demonstrated how to make face mask with a bandana and a coffee filter. Here are some other important things to consider when making a homemade mask.

Don’t ignore your vehicle! 5 ways to prevent auto troubles as your car sits idle

Here are five tips to avoid problems that can come up with sitting vehicles:Make sure to run your car every once in a while. But just in case a car isn’t being used or a two-car household has turned into a one-car household where the other vehicle is just sitting idle, running the car is still vital. Gas does degrade over time, and in some cases, it will go bad in less than two months if a car remains idle. In addition to running the car, treating it with fuel stabilizer can extend the life of your car’s gas. If the gas already is bad, there are ways to remove the bad gas from the tank, according to itstillruns.com.

These YouTube tutorials might help with cutting your own hair

Snip, snip, it’s time to learn how to cut your own hair. With hair salons and barbershops shut down in many states across America during the pandemic, many people are looking for ways on how they still have a fresh haircut without leaving home. Do-it-yourself haircut tutorials have been on YouTube for years, but now, more than ever, people are looking for fresh content to help them feel a little bit more themselves during this unsettling time period. Here are a few different videos, if you’re brave enough to attempt something like this. Short hair:Long hair:

Five thrifty DIY revamps under $20

Boerne-based Twin Sisters Interiors stopped by thrift store, Random Hangers, to revamp some old pieces into new everyday household items for less than $20. Those projects included decorative pillows, a pet leash holder, a tablet stand, a jewelry holder and a coffee table tray. (KSAT)Pet Leash HolderThis decorative piece will turn into a leash holder for your furry friends. (KSAT)Coffee Tray TableThis serving tray will be converted to a coffee tray table. (KSAT)Purchases made at the Random Hangers thrift store help fund the Hill Country Family Services food pantry for needy seniors, children and families.